The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) invites guests to enjoy a free day of fun and music in downtown Indianapolis, ahead of the city’s Fourth of July fireworks. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of IHS and the Indiana Experience, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, with the first-ever Indiana Olympics taking place from noon to 5 p.m. Then, from 6 to 8 p.m., IHS will host a special patriotic edition of its Concerts on the Canal series.
IHS’s Indiana Olympics will feature pioneer games, button and paper fan-making activity tables, and a selfie station. The building-wide celebration will also allow guests to step back in time with You Are There exhibits, take virtual time-travel journeys with Destination Indiana and have songs performed live upon request in the Cole Porter Room. Game cards will be available upon arrival, and those who have it stamped throughout the building will be eligible for prizes.
In addition, visitors to the History Center will enjoy performances of the original short play 1945: Citizen’s Market. The play, with four performances to be held in the Frank and Katrina Basile Theater, provides a snapshot of what World War II looked like at home, when everyday citizens did what they could to boost morale and help achieve victory.
The evening’s Independence Day concert will feature the talents of the Indianapolis Municipal Band, performing patriotic tunes and marches. Guests can reserve a table or a seat on the History Center’s Kruse Family Stardust Terrace or enjoy the music free on the grassy area by the Canal Walk.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages. Hoaglin To Go will provide a cash bar and an outdoor grill, as well as service through the History Center’s Stardust Terrace Café. The Terrace is a smoke-free and pet-free zone.
Performances will end at 8 p.m., with the Terrace closing shortly after the end of the concert. Fireworks are not visible from the Terrace, but guests are welcome to view the display from the Canal Walk or the History Center’s parking lot. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Independence Day concert is part of IHS’s 2017 Concerts on the Canal series, which takes place Thursdaynights, from 6 to 8 p.m., through July 27. The 2017 Concerts on the Canal series is presented by Franciscan Health.
To see the full concert schedule or to learn about other IHS events and programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit IHS online at www.indianahistory.org.
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About the Indiana Historical Society
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller™, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor experiences called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups; publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programs. IHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, home of IHS, is located at 450 W. Ohio St., in downtown Indianapolis.
